Trolley construction



Dec; 9, 1941.

c. c. MARTIN v 2,265,385

TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept, 30, 1938 5 6.6 INVENTOR. BY CHARLES C. MART/N Y ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 9, 1941 TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION Charles C. Martin, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as-

signor to David Round & Son, Garfield Heights,

Ohio

Application September 30, 1938, Serial No 232,561

9 Claims.

This invention, as indicated, relates to a trolley construction. More particularly it comprises an overhead trolley or hoist construction adapted to travel along a trackway and be securely positioned thereon at a selected point. It also includes an improved looking or clamping device embodied in or attached to an overhead trolley or hoist mechanism which resists displacement with an increasing degree of clamping effect as the force tending to move the same is increased. It also embodies a construction of overhead hoist which is unusually compact affording a high degree of head clearance, and at the same time is of very sturdy construction so as to withstand heavy duty service over a long period of time.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved trolley or overhead hoist construction wherein the elements are compactly assembled so as to present a minimum of obstruction beneath the point of support, and at the same time to have unusual adaptability for heavy service of varying character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact trolley hoist unit having incorporated therein a clamping element adapted to automatically resist longitudinal displacement of the unit to a higher degree in accordance with the force applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamping device adapted to be applied to overhead trolley mechanism, including hoisting and the like, wherein such clamping device will operate upon anidle surface of the trackway, and automatically engage with a greater clamping power as force is applied to dislodge the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamping device for trolleys, overhead hoists and the like, which may be readily adjusted in clamping position, and which thereafter will automatically operate to increase such clamping effect as force is applied to move the same longitudinally of its original position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking device for trolleys or overhead hoists and the like which incorporates few elements of structure, but which has exceptional clamping capacity, and at the same time is easy to assemble and install, and maintain under high duty service conditions.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the. annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but several of various forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawin Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a trolley hois mechanism having an improved clamping device as shown partly in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. l, as seen from the right hand side;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view partly in section showing the improved clamping device when first applied. in clamping relation to an overhead trackway, as seen along the lines 3-3 shown in Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows; I

Fig. 4 is a View similar to-Fig. 3 partly in section showing the improved clamping element moved to a position to resist longitudinal displacement to the left;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the improved clamping element moved to a position to resist longitudinal displacement to the right;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section taken along the lines 66 shown in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed view partly in section taken along the lines 'I'I shown in Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 8 is an end view of the clamping block showing the position of the teeth thereon to pro vide increasing clamping action.

As is clearly shown in the drawing, the overhead hoist unit I comprises a compact planetary hoist mechanism 2 having a drum 3 to actuate the main hoist chain 4, upon operation of the drive mechanism through the shaft 5, wheel 6, and operating chain 1. The hoist mechanism 2 is provided with plates 8, 9, at opposite sides, such plates being bent at a slight upward angle at adjacent ends and each being apertured to receive bearings II for a trolley wheel I2 adapted to travel on the upper face of the lower flange I3 of an I-beam I4.

Intermediate the plates 8, 9, the clamping unit I5 is provided, said unit comprising a supporting member I6 in the form of a casting presenting two plate-like sections I'I, I8, at right angles to each other, and having integral extensions I9, 20, suitably apertured to receive securing bolts 2 I, 22, whereby the structure may be firmly secured intermediate the plates 8, 9, in spaced relation t the'under surface of the I-beam I4. 1

The horizontal plate-like section I8 of the supporting member I6 is formed at its free edge with, an integral extension 23 suitably apertured to receive a bolt 24. The spaced plates 8, 9, are suitably apertured to receive the bolts 2t, 22 and 24, the heads and nutsvon said bolts being firmly engaged against the outer surfaces of said respective plates. The plate-like section [8 is provided centrally of its under side witha boss 25 preferably connected by means'of, a web '26 withthe adjacent portions at the inner corner of the supscrew-threaded aperture 21 extending completely through the plate, such aperture receiving the porting member I6. The boss is provided with-a threaded shank of the adjusting-member 28 upon 7 the lower end of which a hand vvheelifl is". pi"ovided. At the upper end of the adjusting memhead having a beveled upper surface designed to ber 28 a terminal head 3| is rigidly secured, said bear against a concave surface provided on *--a" pivot block presently to be described. 7

"The horizontal-plate-like section F8 is provided "its =free*edge with two slots 33, such srei hand angle, and teeth 31 on the right han'd side directed :at a right hand angle, said teeth 'being progressively a greater distance from the pivot of the oam block so *as to provide *camaction against the adjacent surface of the trackway 'The eamblock is provided centrally of its lower portion with a pivot opening 38 extending completely through the same and having s cing-extensions 39-at-each of its-ends. It may be provided "centrally on its under-side with re-e'nforcihg ribs Al to firmlysupport the outermost teeth of the upper surface. The cam block is 'sup'ported by a supporting member 42', -prefera'bly in the form of casting, having a fia't upper sui face "43 with upwardly extending portionsof the sidewall 'fl apertured to receive the pivot :pin of the c'amblock. The under face 46of the-support ing member is preferably of slightly concave c'ontour centrally to provide a bearing surface against which the beveled surface of thelt'ermlnal head 3| of the adjusting member =28 engagesl The lower portions of the side wall "44 are of somewhat triangular shape and :have rearwardly proj ecting portions .41. :which are formed with 'ap'efr tures 48 to receive the bolt 24' which serves asn a "pivot pin for the supporting member 42, which mayFbeJ-termed a pivot, block. 7 It will be noted that -the cam -block 35, a 's is clearly shown in Fig. :3yrriaybe forced upwardly movement toward the right. Thus, any tendency toward displacement of the trolley in either direction will be resisted by the cam block with an increasing degree of clamping action, so that it is practically impossible to shift the trolley mechanism in either direction beyond the slight rocking movement required to increase the clamping action in either direction upon the application of a force tending to move the trolley longitudinally.

It will be noted that the cam block and its supporting member are easily removable from "the apparatus by merely withdrawing the bolt "24Qand sliding the pivot block 42 toward the left,

as shown .in Fig. 3.

Other modes'of applying the principle of my in- "ver'ition may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated said support and unit, 'means for engaging said clamping means in centered :relation with said tra'ckway said clamping means comp-rising means providing double cam areas to'automatically produce rolling :p'rogressive contact and clamping action upon the movement "of said trolley in either direction when the :clamping means is in clampingposition. a 2. An apparatus of a the character described having in combination-a heist unit,'a trolley supinto engagement with the 'under-surface 34 of the 'trackway, and will normally move'th'etrolley until 'thefPOillt of contact with'such "surface is the shortest radius of the eam'block. Thereafter if e a force is applied tending-to" move the trolley unitin "a direction towardthe left; as shown' in Fig. 4, the cam block will turn on its-ip'ivbtwith its teeth "engaging the metal of the urider su'r'face of the 'trackway;and-interlocking therewith wi'th increasingforce as themovement progresses :un

til 'all further movement is resisted by such earn and Will firmlyloek the trone against ffi-fther :port for's'aid unit adapted to travel on an overhead traekway, clamping means directly engaging a surface of the'o'verhead trackw'ay .associ- -ated with said support and unit, nieans forengaging said clamping means in'centered relation with said trackway,-said' clamping means comprising double cam means to automatically produce rolling progressive contact and clamping action iipon the movement of 'said trolley ineither'direction when the clamping m'eans is in clamping 'te'eth'adjacentits respective ends responsive au I tomatically tolongitudinal' movement of said trol :ley hoist structure for increasing the clamping effect of said clamping device when the ela'ni'pin'g means is in clamping' position.

"4. In a trolley-hoist structuretravelingon an overhead trackway, a "clamping device for e'n'ga'gingo'ne surface of said trackway, "said clamping device comprising arockiar mounted on the hoist structure providing a double toothed cam on its contact surface with-outwardly directed "teeth Lad- :jaeent its respective ends *v'vit'n cain elements auitomatic'al1y-resp'onsive to movement in either'dirfeC'tlOiI of "said trolley-'lioiststru'cture forillCIljsi'ng the clamping effector said clamping device when the clamping-means is inelamping posi tion. V

"5.I n a:trolleyfhoist-structflretraveling been overheadtrackway, a clampingdevice for engaging dne surface or said 'traekway omprising a movable supporting plate, :a rocker moiinted the hoist structu re and mevabie into mated;

with the trackway providing a double toothed cam on its contact surface with outwardly directed teeth adjacent its respective ends pivotally mounted thereon, and means for moving said plate toward said trackway and centrally positioning said cam block.

6. In a trolley-hoist structure traveling on an overhead trackway, a clamping device for engaging one surface of said trackway comprising a hinged supporting plate, a cam block movable into contact with the trackway pivotally mounted thereon, and a movable abutment for moving said plate toward said trackway and centrally positioning said cam block.

7. In a trolley-hoist structure traveling on an overhead trackway, a clamping device for engaging one surface of said trackway comprising a hinged supporting plate, a cam block pivotally mounted thereon, and a movable abutment carried on a screw-threaded stem threadedly engaging a part of the hoist structure for moving said plate toward said trackway and centrally positioning said cam block.

8. A trackway in the form of an I-beam providing a pair of flanges at its lower edge, a trolley-hoist unit having wheels adapted to travel on the upper faces of said flanges and carrying a hoist mechanism beneath said trackway, clamping mechanism supported on said hoist unit beneath the lower surface of said trackway, having a. member adapted to be forced into centralized locking engagement therewith, said clamping mechanism means having double cam areas adapted to automatically produce rolling progressive contact and clamping action upon movement of said trolley-hoist unit longitudinally in either direction when the clamping means is in clamping position.

9. A trackway in the form of an I-beam providing a pair of flanges at its lower edge, a trolley-hoist having wheels adapted to travel on the upper faces of said flanges and carrying a hoist mechanism beneath said trackway, clamping mechanism supported on said hoist unit beneath the lower surface of said trackway and having a cam block adapted to be forced into locking engagement with the under surface of said trackway, said cam block being pivoted so as to engage said trackway upon a short radius of support initially and with increasing clamping effect upon a longer radius in response to horizontal movement of said trolley-hoist unit longitudinally in either direction.

CHARLES C. MARTIN. 

